Mars East line
The Mars East Line is a railway line from Mars Station east to Mars Mountain Town (as yet unsettled). The Red Rock Express passenger service operates on the line stopping at the four stations on the line.
History
Approval for the project was given on circa 2021-12-15 by BuckarooBanzai. Construction began after sorting out area access. The right of way was filled out over the next week or so between Mars Mountain Town and the existing Mars Train Tube. After that the tube was connected to the outside and made into a T-junction.
After finishing the right of way, the stations were completed. First was Mars Mountain Town, including a rounded tunnelling digtron. Afterwards was The Gap which is the first diagonal station known to Blockhead on Pandorabox, completed between 2022/01-01/2022-01-03.
The project was completed on 2022-01-04 with the completion of Bellona Plain (renamed from Ares Plain as Ares Station is a well-known spaceport). The inaugural train carried 4 passengers: Blockhead, Baijin and DKFeniks on the way there, then Huhhila also showed up for the return trip back to Mars Station.
Future
The line is unlikely to be extended for some time. It has paved the way for future Mars development and Blockhead would like to do other things. Also the land east of Mars Mountain Town is mostly unexplored except for one trail of mapblocks.
Construction
The route is a normal surface railway without oxygenation, at least for the time being. Passengers need space suits for travel. The route proceeds east from Mars Station, from the existing short railway there, first east then southeast to a gap in the mountains. From the gap it travels first almost due east for a while, then turn southeast, and finally back to straight east and terminates under the mountain. Slope is quite minimal, so only two bridges are in place needed and the only tunnel is directly beneath the mountain. The track is ballasted with gravel cascading sideways, with higher mounds of gravel or retaining walls for some harsher slopes that do not quite need a bridge.
Apart from the stations, the two red rusty metal bridges were another quite intensive part of the construction of the line. Check them out if travelling by on foot!
The route is only single track, with passing loops at the stations. If further construction occurs and makes the East Line a mainline, more duplication can be added as needed.
Stations
The project added 3 new stations. All stations are oxygenated inside and use stealthnodes to keep air in while letting trains pass through.
Mars Central
The station was originally built a long time ago (when) by BuckarooBanzai and saw no services until the Red Rock Express began service. It is made of prefab concrete floor with black metal walls and ceilings and huge dark glass windows.
The Gap
The first diagonal station on Pandorabox to Blockhead's knowledge. Made of plastic and glass walls, red and yellow stained glass. Situated between two rocky hills in the 'gap' between them. Has a pedestrian overpass.
Bellona Plain
Named after Bellona, Roman goddess of war, since Ares was a well-known spaceport with a travelnet. Made out militaristic green metal blocks and stone bricks, with dark glass windows. Has a pedestrian underpass.
Mars Mountain Town
Buried deep underneath a red rock plateau in a town that was never actually settled. Tiled with red sandstone and silver sandstone blocks. Has an elevator as well as stairs.
Affected stakeholders
The right of way travels close to these individuals. Any area access was approved by admin before Blockhead built there.
- admin/BuckarooBanzay - Mars station. Needs to give access to link to the existing station.
- Unknown: Tall building in valley, tracks pass just north of it. Not protected, owner unknown. Might have been there for years, permission probably not needed?
- Arsk: Immediately off the existing tracks in Mars Station, as it starts to go east. Last-login: 2019-09-20. No visible structure above ground, justprotectors. Offline for a very long time, also hasn't touched the surface, so can probably arrange access.
- Kosha: Large building, tracks pass just south of it. Last-login: 2021-12-02. Should be asked to approve since they are recently active.
- Thimli: Travelnet, mine site just north of the tracks, on the west side of the desert sandstone mountain gap. Last-login: 2021-12-06. Active player, but also, doesn't seem to intend to settle. Probably do not need to ask permission.
- gummybear: Huge land claim east side of the desert sandstone mountains. Nothing notable above ground. Can this claim be reassessed downwards? Last-login: 2019-09-24.
- LittleFire: Mining outpost on a hill near where the track turns from generally east to generally southeast. Not that close, I don't think permission is needed. Last-login: 2021-09-03 though structure appears older with area ID 2043 (current is 13500ish).
- korlen: Owner of the travelnet at Mars Mountain Town and Olduvai. Last-login: 2021-08-12. Not sure if permission needed? I have already built an oxygenated room there and the station is deep underneath the surface plateau. Also the travelnet always seemed like an invitation to settle.